Learning plan cover

Contemporary US History

LEARNING PLAN

Contemporary US History

This learning plan provides essential context for understanding today's America by tracing its development through pivotal historical moments since 1945. Ideal for anyone seeking to comprehend current political divisions, social movements, and America's global position through the lens of recent history.

ByCommunity User
2 h 23 m
12 coursesUpdated 13 days ago
WitnessEmbracing DefeatCold War: Superpowers, Spies, and Nuclear Brinkmanship12 sources

How This Learning Plan Was Made

This plan was crafted by BeFreed's proprietary AI to help you learn Contemporary US History with ease. It is curated from in-depth research on the topic and structured around the most effective learning journeys proven by BeFreed users.

Each episode delivers bite-sized, high-impact lessons distilled from world-class sources — bestselling books, research papers, and expert insights. Together, they form a sophisticated yet accessible path to mastering Contemporary US History.

What You'll Learn

  • Analyze key events that shaped post-WWII America from Cold War tensions to economic prosperity
  • Evaluate the impact of civil rights movements and cultural revolutions on American society
  • Examine political shifts from Reagan through the end of the Cold War to 9/11
  • Assess how globalization and technology have transformed contemporary American life
  • Develop critical thinking skills to understand complex historical trends and their modern implications

Explore the critical formative years that shaped modern America after World War II, from Cold War beginnings to economic prosperity and early social movements.

Witness cover
Witness

From Soviet spy to American hero: one man's moral awakening.

9 m
Embracing Defeat cover
Embracing Defeat

Japan's painful rebirth: ordinary voices reshape a defeated nation

9 m
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source 1Cold War | Dates, Definition, Timeline, Summary, Era, & Factssource 3Cold War - Wikipedia
6 sources
Cold War: Superpowers, Spies, and Nuclear Brinkmanship

Explore the fascinating 45-year standoff between the US and Soviet Union through gripping spy stories, nuclear crises, and the dramatic events that reshaped our world without a single direct shot fired.

19 m

Examine the revolutionary social movements that reshaped American identity and values during the turbulent decades of the 1960s and 1970s.

Roots cover
Roots

Epic journey through generations reveals America's painful, powerful racial history.

9 m
A More Beautiful and Terrible History cover
A More Beautiful and Terrible History

Challenging civil rights myths, highlighting women and young leaders, and the true struggle for justice.

13 m
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source 1NEVADA | DCLas Vegas Magic Book by Richard Abowitz | ASSOULINELas Vegas Guidebook 2018: Shops, Restaurants, Entertainment and Nightlife in Las Vegas (City Guidebook 2018): Lumpkin, Lionel M: 9781986279901: Amazon.com: Books
6 sources
Vegas Civil Rights: The Untold Story

Explore the hidden history of African American civil rights in Las Vegas, from WWII labor strikes to the groundbreaking Moulin Rouge Agreement that ended Strip segregation in 1960.

28 m

Understand how America's political landscape transformed from the Reagan era through the end of the Cold War to the pivotal events of 9/11.

The Soul of America cover
The Soul of America

A historian's inspiring look at how America has overcome division and fear throughout its history to progress forward.

9 m
The Best and the Brightest cover
The Best and the Brightest

Brilliant minds, catastrophic decisions: how America stumbled into Vietnam

9 m
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The United States and Military Intervention: A Troubling LegacyIraq and the Pathologies of Primacy: The Flawed Logic That Produced the War Is Alive and Wellsource 3source 4
6 sources
Wars America Should Have Avoided

Blythe and Eli dissect America's most disastrous military interventions, from Vietnam to Afghanistan, revealing how the pursuit of global dominance led to tragic miscalculations and unnecessary wars.

9 m

Analyze how globalization, technology, and geopolitical shifts have shaped contemporary America, from the War on Terror to digital revolution and political polarization.

The American War in Afghanistan cover
The American War in Afghanistan

A comprehensive, incisive account of America's longest war, examining political and military aspects from 2001 to 2021.

9 m
The World Is Flat cover
The World Is Flat

Friedman explores how globalization and technology have leveled the economic playing field, creating new opportunities and challenges worldwide.

9 m
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Donald Trump: Impact and LegacyRight Wing Revolution: How to Beat the Woke and Save the...Charlie Kirk - The Great Reset and the Coming New World ...Views of Trump's Policies and Confidence in His Ability
9 sources
Charlie Kirk and Trump: How They Changed American Politics

How Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump rewrote U.S. politics—turning outsider energy, youth movements, and rule-breaking into a lasting blueprint reshaping parties, campaigns, and democracy itself.

11 m

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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments
254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
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483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments
201
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16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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